Do Celebrities Like Beyonce Have A Responsibility To Speak About Injustice?

Beyoncé has been in the headlines as of late since the release of her new concert film ‘Renaissance.’ The singer’s tour of the same name was the talk of the summer and recently the pop superstar made headlines because of her appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of her film. Beyoncé is no stranger to controversy—throughout her nearly three-decade career she has been critiqued about nearly everything from her music to her skin to her activism (or seeming lack thereof). Recently Beyoncé, along with a slew of other celebrities, has been criticized for not speaking out about what’s happening with Israel and Gaza, with many blaming the star for allowing her film to be screened in Israel amidst the current situation. Given the resurgence of the celebrity responsibility conversation, it’s important to interrogate what role, if any, celebrities should play when it comes to addressing injustice and societal oppression.

Like many other celebrities, Beyoncé is held to an unrealistic standard and when she fails to live up to the public’s ideals, she is denigrated and disparaged for it. Watching what has unfolded should be an indication that no celebrity, including the almighty Beyoncé, should be so revered that they are above critique. Many musicians have been called out for their silence regarding Israel and Gaza including Rihanna, Taylor Swift and DJ Khaled. But when thinking about this idea of celebrity responsibility, it’s helpful to analyze this through the lens of Beyoncé: a person who has been in the industry for a while and who has faced and continues to face a mountain of both praise and criticism. Criticism of the megastar has grown louder in recent years because the singer has positioned herself as an activist and revolutionary as evidenced through her art and music.

At the 2016 Super Bowl 50 halftime show, the singer performed in an outfit that paid homage to 1960s Black Panther Party attire and that same year, her innovative visual album came out, with Billboard labeling it as a “revolutionary work of Black feminism.” In 2020, the singer shared a heartfelt message for the class of 2020. In a portion of the message, Beyoncé stated “one of the main purposes of my art for many years has been dedicated to showing the beauty of Black people to the world, our history, our profundity and the value of Black lives.” In 2020, the singer also released a concert film called “Black Is King”, which was created to “celebrate Black resilience and culture,” and highlight “the beauty of tradition and Black excellence.”

Fans have been excited to see Beyoncé lean more into politics, social issues, womanhood and her Blackness throughout her art and many may have assumed this new era would reveal a different side of the singer—a side that is more vocal about issues that plague the most marginalized communities. Given how much Beyoncé has leaned into honoring and celebrating Blackness and Black culture within the last several years, many have been disappointed to witness the singer’s apparent silence when it comes to issues impacting Black communities. Some expected that Beyoncé’s newfound candor, particularly when it came to Black issues, would translate into the singer lending her voice to different social issues that impact the African diaspora locally and globally.

In 2020, Beyoncé was called on to speak out about #EndSARS, a movement initially started in 2017, that rose to prominence in 2020 to highlight injustice and violence faced at the hands of Nigeria’s police force unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Most recently, the singer has faced backlash for not speaking out about the situations impacting different Black communities; specifically what’s been happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Haiti, within the Tigray region of Ethiopia, as well as in Sudan. Critics argue that Beyoncé can use Black and African culture as an aesthetic when it’s beneficial but is quiet when it comes to addressing issues directly affecting Black people.

“We have to see Beyoncé for who she is,” shared Candace Parrish, Ph.D. who is the founder of Textured Eight PR. “She’s a pop star...not politician. She hasn’t really spoken out on things...she uses her artistry as her vehicle for activism. That is her contribution to the world. With her non-profit BeyGOOD, one of her areas of philanthropy is giving back to Black businesses and making sure that Black businesses are equipped with what they need. They’ve given away millions of dollars...in grant money, in business accelerator education...they’re now headed to Brazil and they’re headed to Africa...so she’s giving in the way that feels most comfortable for her and we have to just put it in that perspective...what we have to do is get our local politicians together...lean into and support the celebrities that will talk like Amanda Seales...go and support the people you know will talk instead of hopping online and jumping down the throat of someone you know won’t talk about it.”

In a 1963 interview, civil rights leader Malcolm X discussed the pitfalls of pedestalizing Black celebrities in the Black community. In the interview, Malcolm X explained that unlike in the white community, in the Black community people prop up Black celebrities when they are often nothing but puppets for the white establishment. Beyoncé and other celebrities must grapple with greater expectations of when and how they use their voice and must always deal with accusations that they are not doing enough with their power, privilege and access. But those that assume the role of activist must be willing to use their voice, their art, and their influence to impact change.

“I think we, as the public, must realize that Beyoncé is a capitalist enterprise,” shared educator Lisa V. Betty. As much as we may admire all of the attachments that make Beyoncé what she is and may present herself to represent (radical politics whether it be Black Panther Party/Black Feminism, Black is King, or the Black queer centering in ‘Renaissance’), Beyoncé's Black radical politics is a part of her business model to sell clothes, music, films, etc. It is not her embodied politics or her daily reality, especially as a billionaire. Legends like Miriam Makeba, Nina Simone, Harry Belafonte and even Aretha Franklin always showed up at important historical moments for human rights, against apartheid, and for Black activists and activism. The stakes were always high, and being censored and doxxed [was] a looming reality. I think we must invest in artists that center human rights, not as a catchy anthem, but as an embodiment of their practice and artistry. This does not mean we should not push for Black celebrities and billionaires to do and be better, but it also means that we should lower our expectations and divest from the concept of celebrity all together.”

A representative for Beyoncé was contacted for this story but did not immediately respond for comment.